Combating bad breath for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a time for love, and to mark the occasion, a kiss is something many will be hoping for. However, for one in four of us the issue of bad breath can be a concern. Chronic bad breath (halitosis) is something many people deal with daily. Dr Jane McAleese from Dental Care Ireland Ballyowen has the following advice to keep your dental health in top shape to avoid dealing with bad breath this Valentine’s.
Brushing your teeth
A common cause of chronic bad breath (halitosis) is bacteria in the mouth working to naturally break down food, leading to some plaque lingering on your teeth, tongue and gums. When combined with saliva, this plaque can produce an unpleasant smell. Brushing your teeth is crucial for oral health and it’s your best defence against bad breath. It is typically advised that you need to brush for at least two minutes twice a day and be sure to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months or after an illness. You may want to rinse with an antibacterial or odour eliminating mouthwash too. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, as it can also harbour bacteria.
Flossing
It’s important to remember that brushing only deals with about 60% of plaque build-up, so make sure that you floss regularly to get to those places where your toothbrush cannot reach. This will help to limit the amount of bacteria and plaque in your mouth. Generally speaking, it is advised to floss at least once a day.
Don’t smoke
Not only does the lingering smell of stale smoke cause bad breath, but smoking also stains your teeth, irritates your gums and increases your chance of tooth decay and gum disease. If you do smoke, there are mouthwashes and smokers’ toothpastes available that may be effective in removing stains and freshening up the mouth. While they can mask the symptoms of halitosis, they cannot treat any underlying damage caused by smoking.
Avoid strong-smelling foods and drinks
If you’re heading out on a date this Valentine’s Day, avoid strong-smelling foods or drinks such as onions, garlic and coffee. Bad breath from food is often only temporary and will go away once you brush and floss, however if you’re hoping for a kiss at the end of your dinner date, it might be best to opt for a milder meal! If you can’t resist your favourite strong-smelling food or drinks, make sure to drink plenty of water and chew sugar-free gum after your meal. This will increase saliva flow, which helps eliminate the odour-causing bacteria.
Visit your dentist
If you’ve followed the above advice and still struggle with bad breath, it could be a sign of underlying issues such as tooth decay or gum disease. Make sure you visit your dentist regularly so that you can keep your oral health in top shape and avoid dealing with bad breath in the first place.
Dental Care Ireland has practices around the country. Get in touch with your local practice for an appointment, and remember you can also book an appointment online.
Bad breath: how to prevent it
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Dr Paul O’Dwyer, group clinical advisor at Dental Care Ireland, answers some common questions on how to keep bad breath at bay
Q: What is the most common cause of bad breath?
A: Bad breath (halitosis) can often originate in the gums and tongue. It is typically caused by the bacteria in our mouths as they work to naturally break down food. Smoking is also a common cause. In some cases, persistent bad breath can also be a sign of underlying issues such as tooth decay or gum disease.
Q: Is stress a contributing factor?
A: Stress, dieting, age, hormonal changes, and dry mouth can all exacerbate the symptoms.
Q: How can I help prevent bad breath?
A: It is important to maintain a consistent oral health routine at home. Ideally, brush twice per day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Remember to include your tongue, as it can also harbour bacteria. Floss teeth at least once a day, to help clean areas that your toothbrush cannot reach. It is best to replace your toothbrush at least every three months, or after an illness.
Q: How can I avoid it after eating my favourite foods?
A: Strong-smelling foods and drinks, such as onions, garlic or coffee, can be detected on a person’s breath for up to 72 hours after digestion. The effect on your breath is usually only temporary. Drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar-free gum after a meal, will increase saliva flow, which helps eliminate the odour-causing bacteria.
Q: How can I manage bad breath from smoking?
A: Mouthwashes and smokers’ toothpastes may be effective in removing stains and freshening up the mouth. While they can mask the symptoms/signs of halitosis, however, they cannot treat any underlying damage caused by smoking. Smoking also irritates the gums and often contributes to your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.
Q: What should I do if my bad breath persists?
A: If your bad breath persists, it could be a sign of underlying issues including tooth decay or gum disease. Schedule a regular check-up with your dentist or dental hygienist to help maintain your oral health and prevent the occurrence of bad breath.
For more tips and advice on looking after your family’s oral health, visit dentalcareireland.ie
Don’t let bad breath ruin your love life this Valentine’s Day
As tradition would have it, a kiss on Valentine’s Day is said to bring good luck along with a variety of health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, and increased resilience against tooth decay, due to an increase in saliva which helps fight plaque causing bacteria.
However, there is one thing that is sure to stop you getting your kiss this Valentine’s Day, the dreaded curse of bad breath.
There are many common causes for bad breath or Halitosis and according to the Irish Dental Association, a surprising 1 in 4 Irish people are suffering with chronic bad breath. In most cases it is easily treated and very preventable and shouldn’t be holding you back from a potentially life changing kiss.
It is likely that your bad breath is caused by the bacteria in the mouth working to break down food in the mouth and leads to the formation of plaque on your teeth, tongue and gums. When combined with saliva, it can produce an unpleasant smelling gas.
Make sure you adopt a good oral hygiene routine, brushing alone will only clean 60% of the tooth surface. Flossing daily will allow to reach the surfaces that brushing misses and will limit the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
Just because you’re brushing your teeth twice a day, doesn’t mean you’re cleaning them well enough. You need to brush for a at least two minutes and be sure to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. You may want to rinse with an antibacterial or odour eliminating mouthwash too.
Of course there are the obvious causes, don’t be surprised if people keep their distance after you’ve indulged in strong smelling foods such as onions and garlic. This smell is often temporary and following good oral hygiene techniques will help.
Smokers take note, this is a likely cause of your bad breath. As well as the lingering smell of stale smoke, it stains your teeth, irritates your gums and increases your chance of tooth decay and gum disease.
Constant bad breath can also be a sign of tooth decay or gum disease. You should be visiting your dentist every 6-12 months, so it may be time to book your check-up to make sure you have no cavities in need of attention.
Book your dental examination with one of our Dental Care Ireland clinicians today and make sure your teeth and gums are happy and healthy. Don’t let bad breath hold you back.
